Los Angeles Dodgers Game Previews: Kershaw Faces Rockies in Series Opener

The Dodgers are back after a day off on Thursday. Fresh off of their three game sweep of the Seattle Mariners, the Dodgers welcome the first place Colorado Rockies into town for a weekend set.

The Rockies have been playing very well, and have started the season with a 7-2 record, one game ahead of the Dodgers who are 6-3. The Rockies have been getting great contributions from their star players Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez, and their bright young third baseman Nolan Arenado. Arenado’s star continues to rise, and he looks like a very impressive young player.

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The Dodgers will have to watch out for the young Arenado while keeping the usual suspects of Cargo, and Mullet Man in the ball park. Can they do it?

Puig sits again for the third straight game. Why the club told everyone he would be starting tonight, I don’t know. Adam Liberatore is listed on the lineup sheet to replace Carlos Frias.

Dodgers Lineup vs. Colorado

Rollins SS

Crawford LF

Gonzalez 1B

Kendrick 2B

Grandal C

Ethier RF

Uribe 3B

Pederson CF

Kershaw P

Kyle Kendrick-1-1 vs. Clayton Kershaw-0-1

Game Time 7:10 PM

They have the right man on the mound to do that. Of course I am talking about the great Clayton Kershaw. Poor Clayton got off to a rough start to the season. In spring training he got in the haw with a line drive that knocked out a couple of his teeth. Since then he’s had to have a root canal and some extensive dental work. Has that been a factor in his rough start? It is a possibility.

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Kershaw’s first start against San Diego on opening day yielded a no-decision. Kershaw allowed three runs in six innings and whiffed nine. Fortunately the Dodgers came from behind to win and get him off the hook. His last start at Arizona was a disaster however. He allowed six runs on ten hits through 6.1 innings. That is not Kershaw like.

Overall Kershaw is 0-1 with a 5.84 ERA in 12.1 innings pitched. Although he has whiffed 14, but walked five. That is definitely not like Kershaw. Let us all remember that everyone has bad games, even the great Clayton Kershaw.

Last year Kershaw was excellent against the Rockies. There was his unforgettable no-hitter pitched against Colorado last June. Overall Kershaw was 3-0 with a 0.41 ERA in three games against Colorado. Kershaw struck out 32 and walked just one measly Colorado hitter. Magnificent.

Lifetime Kershaw is 13-5 with a 3.21 ERA against Colorado. In 26 starts he has whiffed 178 and walked just 56. That gives him a 9.9 strikeout per nine rate against the Rockies. The Rockies are batting .226 (53 for 234) with a .598 OPS and five home runs against Kershaw.

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Somehow DJ Lemahieu is batting .296 (8 for 27), and Nick Hundley is hitting .310 (9 for 29) off of Kershaw. Cargo is hitting .167 (5 for 30) with 17 strikeouts. However he has hit two home runs off Kershaw. Tulowitzki is hitting .231 (12 for 52), and has two home runs himself. Wilin Rosario has also hit a home run versus Kershaw. Colorado hitters have struck out 75 times against Kershaw in 252 plate appearances.

Colorado will counter with right hander Kyle Kendrick. The 30-year old signed as a free agent with the Rockies on February 4 of this year. He was originally with the Phillies for the last few years. Last year Kendrick was 10-13 with a 4.61 ERA. Over his career, Kendrick has consistently posted FIPs in the 4’s. (career 4.67 FIP), and a strikeout per nine rate of only 4.9. He does not get a lot of swings and misses.

The Dodgers have seen him a lot over the years, when he was in Philadelphia. He only faced the Dodgers once last year. He is 5-6 with a 6.47 ERA in 13 games against the Dodgers. At Dodger Stadium he is 3-3 with a 7.81 ERA in eight games.

The Dodgers are hitting .330 (45 for 106) with three home runs, and an .893 OPS against. Juan Uribe is 5 for 8 with a home runs and a double. Adrian Gonzalez is hitting .417 (5 for 12) with three walks and two doubles off of Kendrick. Andre Ethier has hit two home runs versus Kendrick.

The Dodgers made another minor roster move today. They designated Ryan Dennick for assignment and claimed right hander Daniel Corcino off of waivers from the Reds. Corcino was considered a top prospect within the Cincinnati organization before he fell out of favor. The Dodgers should put him in the minors. As for why they picked up Dennick only to designate him two days later, I have no idea.

That’s all I got for now. Stacie will have the play by play tonight, so don’t forget to check in over here when the game is over.

Go Blue!